Paraguayan bishop says former bishop is still in a state of disobedience

The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Paraguay, Bishop Ignacio Gogorza, reiterated this week that former bishop Fernando Lugo, who is running for president, is still in a state of “disobedience to the Holy Father.”

“For me and for the Catholic Church, he continues to be a bishop suspended ‘a divinis’ from his ministry and therefore, he is participating in politics in disobedience to the Holy Father,” Bishop Gogorza stated, adding that “the fact that he personally resigned does not authorize him, ecclesiastically speaking, to take part in politics.”

Lugo won the nomination for president from opposition parties in Paraguay.

On April 20, voters will elect a new president, vice president, 45 senators, 80 representatives and 17 state governors.